Compare towns

Brooklyn vs Smithfield vs Windsor Locks vs Stafford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brooklyn has the most homeowners (81.7%).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Stafford has the most kids (21.5% under 18).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureBrooklynSmithfieldWindsor LocksStafford
People
Population
8,517Lowest
22,233Highest
12,579
11,511
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
45.6±2.5
17% above U.S.
41.8±2.6
7% above U.S.
41.4±2.6Lowest
6% above U.S.
46.7±4.8Highest
20% above U.S.
Stafford and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.6%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
21.5%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Stafford and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.7
U.S.: 17.2%
22%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Stafford and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$96,207±$15k
19% above U.S.
$102,077±$8kHighest
26% above U.S.
$81,205±$13kLowest
about the U.S. average
$93,235±$16k
15% above U.S.
Smithfield and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$315,200±$28k
5% below U.S.
$446,400±$12kHighest
34% above U.S.
$258,800±$14kLowest
22% below U.S.
$263,800±$22k
21% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$98
20% below U.S.
$1,016±$241Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,394±$187Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,086±$85
23% below U.S.
Windsor Locks and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,538
45% above U.S.
$5,207Highest
67% above U.S.
$3,688Lowest
18% above U.S.
$5,131
65% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.5%±19.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
58.2%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.5%±12.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Windsor Locks and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1970
10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
25 min
7% below U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
10.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Windsor Locks and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #113 of 149 in CT #8 of 38 in RI #109 of 149 in CT #96 of 149 in CT
School district Brooklyn School District Smithfield Windsor Locks School District Stafford School District
High school in town None in town Smithfield High School Windsor Locks High School Stafford High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.8Highest
8.9Lowest
9.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.